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This week I’m finally going to bake the cookies for the family. Having the kids or grandkids help to make and decorate them is always fun.

Make sure each of the kids has a part in the fun. At two they can pour something in the bowl (maybe with a little help) from the measuring cup. The three through four-year-old’s can do this themselves. Around six the can start to do the measuring. Show them the mark on the measuring cup and guide them to check the mark each time they add more of their ingredient.

Sugar Cookies:

This is my recipe for sugar cookies. One that most kids love and have fun making.

1 cup shortening

1 ¼ cup sugar

3 eggs

3 cups flour

3 t baking powder

½ t salt

1 t vanilla

Mix ingredients in order of the list. Drop by a spoonful on a cookie sheet. Or you can chill the dough and roll out to ¼ inch on a floured counter and use cookie cutters to make the shapes. Bake at 375 degrees 8 to 10 minutes. Edges will be slightly golden.

Once the cookies are baked and cooled let them have fun with frosting and decorating. This is my frosting for sugar cookies. It forms a light crust when dry.

Frosting:

4 cups of powdered sugar

½ stick of butter

½ teaspoon vanilla

a splash milk at a time until frosting is thick and smooth

Beat well between additions of milk to check consistency. This makes enough for a double batch of sugar cookies

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Then have colored sugar, sprinkles, and candies for decorating.

Donate good condition toys:

Another thing you can do with the kids is to have them go through their toys. Tell them they can give toys or games that they don’t play with anymore to children that don’t have much. You can pick the nicest looking toys or games and wrap them. You can take them to a homeless shelter or call a children’s hospital and see if there are children your kids can share their gifts with.

This will be a good lesson for them on sharing. As you give the gifts, have the kids talk with those receiving them and ask how you can pray for them. Don’t visit too long, you don’t want to tire the kids out.

Please take time for yourself to rest. Don’t worry about things. Enjoy what you have ready. The time with family and friends is what is important. The Reason for the Season is to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.